Calcium Levels Differences in Men with Schizophrenia Treated with Olanzapine and Risperidone in Prof. Dr. M Ildrem Psychiatric Hospital Medan

BACKGROUND: Second generation of antipsychotic medications is widely administrated in Indonesia and there is a distinctive difference in plasma calcium level in those receiving risperidone and olanzapine. According to several studies, decreased bone density is one of the deleterious effects affecting schizophrenic individuals receiving risperidone and olanzapine. AIM: The objective of the study was to determine the difference in serum calcium levels between men with schizophrenia who treated with olanzapine and risperidone at Prof. Dr. M Ildrem Psychiatric Hospital, Medan. METHODS: This is an experimental pre-test and post-test that compares two groups, namely the intervention group and the control group. Eligible subjects are those who meet our inclusion criteria in the following; age between 15 and 35 years old, total score of PANSS between 90 and 150, and normal serum calcium level. The subjects of the study were 60 men with schizophrenia, namely 30 who received olanzapine and 30 who received risperidone. The sampling method is non-probability sampling with a consecutive sampling type. RESULTS: There was a decrease in the total serum calcium level with the antipsychotic risperidone and olanzapine after 4 weeks, and a higher decrease occurred in the risperidone treatment group compared to olanzapine (p = 0.023). CONCLUSION: There was a significant decrease in serum calcium levels among men with schizophrenia who received risperidone therapy compared with those who received olanzapine therapy between the beginning and the end of week 4. It is expected that clinicians can consider giving antipsychotic therapy olanzapine in people with schizophrenia with low calcium levels.